Image credit: Getty Images
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in world football including Arsenal, with the Eagles demanding a hefty fee to part ways with the highly-rated 21-year-old.
Wharton, who joined Palace from Blackburn Rovers in February last year for an initial £18 million, has made a significant impact at Selhurst Park. His performances in midfield quickly earned him a call-up to the England squad under Gareth Southgate, leading to his international debut in June. The young midfielder was also included in England’s Euro 2024 squad, although he did not feature during the tournament.
Despite being limited to just 12 Premier League appearances this season due to a groin injury, Wharton remains in high demand. According to theDaily Mail, Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool are all monitoring his situation.
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Additionally, European powerhouses Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have expressed interest, while Manchester City were previously keen but opted to sign Nico Gonzalez in January due to concerns over Wharton’s injury.
Adam Wharton
Arsenal are reportedly interested in Adam Wharton (Image credit: Getty Images)
Palace have reportedly set a £70 million valuation on the midfielder and are unwilling to negotiate below that figure in the summer transfer window. Given the level of interest from top clubs, a bidding war could drive the price even higher.
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If Wharton is sold, Palace stand to make a substantial profit, having only paid a potential £22 million—including add-ons—to sign him from Blackburn. Though relatively inexperienced with just 28 Premier League appearances, his technical ability, composure, and presence in midfield have impressed scouts across Europe.
Wharton made his return from injury on February 2 in a victory over Manchester United, earning praise from Palace manager Oliver Glasner.
“It was very good to see him back,” Glasner said. “It was the first time in my career that a player had been out for three to four months, trained for just one week, and was still able to make the squad. His performance throughout the week was impressive. We discussed how many minutes he could play, and we decided 15 to 20 minutes was possible. Big credit to our rehab coaches—it’s good to have him back.”
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